Wise Folder Hider

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Editors' Review

Files, folders, and USB drives hidden on your PC with Wise Folder Hider can't be seen without your password. Drag-and-drop functionality and a no-nonsense layout make WiseCleaner's freeware easy to use, while a log-in password plus the option to set individual passwords to lock items make it doubly secure.

Publisher's Description

Wise Folder Hider is freeware.
It can quickly and safely hide not only the files/folders on local partitions or removable devices but also USB drives or the files/folders on USB drives.
The hidden files/folders will be safely hidden no matter whether the drive is accessed in another operating system on the same computer or reinstalled on another computer. The only way to access hidden files/folders/USB is to enter the valid password(s) correctly.
Its double password protection can ensure the absolute safety of your files/folders/USB.
Wise Folder Hider is very convenient. You can directly hide a file/folder/USB only by right click if you don't want to start up the program.
It supports many languages such as English, Chinese Simplified, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, and Turkish.

FREE! The only free folder hide and password tool I could find that did not have some trial trick, like trial time limit, folder limit, preset trial password, no usb flash drive capability, I went through 3 or 4 others, Folder Lock, My Lockbox, etc. what a pain, they say they are free, you have to install then find out there is some catch! Have not found any trouble with this, and the graphics are fine, not too primitive, and not too fancy.

Cons

Not true encryption, just a barrier to casual snooping. Not truly portable, you have to install it on any system you are using, if you want to access USB flash drive. So, if you do not have administrative rights you won't be able to access your locked files.

Summary

If you just want a simple password and folder hide privacy tool, save yourself a lot of hassle and go for this one, it seems to do the trick just the same as the other ones that jerk you around with bait and switch tricks, then hit you with a $40 price tag.

Double password setting for login and the hidden folders/files,when I input the passwords for the hidden file and open file, it is visible and needn't to move it to Wise Folder Hider after stopping running the program, the visible file will return to the hidden files list automatically.

In Windows, you can right click a folder, click Properties, then check the Hidden option. The folder will disappear. To make it reappear, basically enable Show Hidden Folders in Folder Options to make it appear again so you can unhide it. That makes this software basically useless, unless you do not want to go through all of that trouble.

Simplicity is great. Tried to achieve the same thing with user privileges, hiding folders, setting attributes etc. in Windows 7 and gave up. This thing worked in minutes and does the trick.Works on hiding folders from network users also. I can give users access to all my files then simply hide the ones I don't want them to see and access. Great value when it's free but I'm going to donate when I figure out where and how.

Cons

there does not seem to be an easy way to unhide then hide again other than going through the same procedure ie finding the file or folder in the correct directory.Program does not remember where the last folder to hide was located to allow for continuing down the directory to find the next one. Have to start from the root directory every time. I may be missing something as I've only just started to use the program.

Summary

It's so easy you wonder why the billionaires at Microsoft don't think of this or include it as an add on.Perfect for a small business environment where some users have to have limited access. I know there's probably a way to do it in windows explorer but I gave up. Folder Hider makes it as easy as it should be. Thank you.

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